My favorite handgun caliber?
Used to be .357 magnum.
Then I learned about a soviet adaptation of a German round,the 7.63x25 Mauser.
7.62x25 Tokarev.
Call me crazy,but lets look at a solid fact or two-
Brass Fetcher Ballistic Testing
7.62x25mm Sellier & Bellot 85gr FMJ vs. NIJ II vest
http://www.brassfetcher.com/index_files/Page1242.htm
Test # AP 3
Bare gelatin. (Nominal 10% concentration)
Cartridge : 7.62x25mm Sellior & Bellot 85gr FMJ
Block Calibration :
Primary block : 4.6 ± 0.05 inch penetration @ 591 ± 0.5 ft/sec
Vest was draped over the face of the gelatin block. Vest was ‘new old stock’ but never issued. Fabric was Kevlar 29.
Bullet Performance:
Impact Velocity : 1521 ± 0.5 feet/second
Deepest Penetration Depth : 11.8 ± 0.05 Inch
Maximum Crack Diameter : NR
Max Crack Diameter Location : NR
Cavitation Depth : NR
Notes:
Weapon – CZ 52, with 4.6” barrel length
Distance – 10 feet, muzzle to gelatin impact face
Test site conditions - 72 deg F
Time out of refrigeration prior to shot impact - 5 minutes
Bullet recovered weight – NR
Bullet recovered average diameter – 0.462”
Bullet recovered length – NR
Here is a picture of the expended projectile-
Please visit the website above for a picture of the gelatin showing penetration and performance.
Level II Kevlar is the second highest rated soft 'concealable' body armor by the National Institute of Justice.
It will stop 9 mm FMJ, at ~1,175 fps,or .357 JSP at ~ 1,395 fps,for example.
Being concealable,available for purchase over the internet,and highly rated,you better believe its out there in the wrong hands.A prime example of this is the extreme lengths to which Larry Eugene Phillips, Jr. and Emil Matasareanu went to armor themselves for their shootout with police in the now infamous 'North Hollywood Shootout' on February 28, 1997.
Deepest Penetration Depth : 11.8 ± 0.05 Inch-Thats almost the 'required' 12 inches of penetration AFTER TOTALLY DEFEATING a level II vest.And thats a basic FMJ with standard lead core,available over the counter by Sellier and Bellot.
Also,please note that the FMJ projectile actually EXPANDED to ABOVE .45 caliber-Bullet recovered average diameter – 0.462.The weight might not be there,but the penetration and the diameter sure is.And I'll be willing to bet it expanded to that diameter because of breaching that vest,so were looking at a .46 caliber hole for just shy of 12 inches-in other words,this is a .46 caliber wound passing the total length of 'soft tissue' terminal ballistics,all the way thru the 'bad guy'-AFTER defeating his vest.
Not bad.
Not bad at all.
Wonder if there is a difference between lead core and some of the steel core milsurp ammo out there?I do,but I do know that this makes a CZ52 or a TT33 or any of its many varients a bit more appealing in an age when kevlar vests are being worn as a 'status symbol' by gang bangers.......
Toks and CZ52s arent the most modern of handguns to carry.But they cost around $200 and you have your pick in exemplary locking mechanisms,if not much else-Browning style in the TT33,or MG42 style roller bearing in the CZ52.
With a bit of proper selection,you can get a down right reliable and accurate pistol.
Both may need some minor work,like new springs or maybe a new finish,before carry.
But they carry like any other single stack full size auto,i've even heard that some guys use their 1911 rigs with the CZ52.
I'm still waiting,but the day someone makes a modern pistol chambered for 7.62x25 tokarev is the day I spend whatever money it costs to have one,at the risk of having it used on me by my missus.
For more information and to see how other 'penetrators' stack up,go here-
http://www.brassfetcher.com/index_files/Page315.htm
You might be particularly surprised to see how the 5.7mm FN stacks up.......
I'll give you a hint:
Deepest Penetration Depth : 6.2 ± 0.05 Inch
Tokarev 'wins' again!
Used to be .357 magnum.
Then I learned about a soviet adaptation of a German round,the 7.63x25 Mauser.
7.62x25 Tokarev.
Call me crazy,but lets look at a solid fact or two-
Brass Fetcher Ballistic Testing
7.62x25mm Sellier & Bellot 85gr FMJ vs. NIJ II vest
http://www.brassfetcher.com/index_files/Page1242.htm
Test # AP 3
Bare gelatin. (Nominal 10% concentration)
Cartridge : 7.62x25mm Sellior & Bellot 85gr FMJ
Block Calibration :
Primary block : 4.6 ± 0.05 inch penetration @ 591 ± 0.5 ft/sec
Vest was draped over the face of the gelatin block. Vest was ‘new old stock’ but never issued. Fabric was Kevlar 29.
Bullet Performance:
Impact Velocity : 1521 ± 0.5 feet/second
Deepest Penetration Depth : 11.8 ± 0.05 Inch
Maximum Crack Diameter : NR
Max Crack Diameter Location : NR
Cavitation Depth : NR
Notes:
Weapon – CZ 52, with 4.6” barrel length
Distance – 10 feet, muzzle to gelatin impact face
Test site conditions - 72 deg F
Time out of refrigeration prior to shot impact - 5 minutes
Bullet recovered weight – NR
Bullet recovered average diameter – 0.462”
Bullet recovered length – NR
Here is a picture of the expended projectile-
Please visit the website above for a picture of the gelatin showing penetration and performance.
Level II Kevlar is the second highest rated soft 'concealable' body armor by the National Institute of Justice.
It will stop 9 mm FMJ, at ~1,175 fps,or .357 JSP at ~ 1,395 fps,for example.
Being concealable,available for purchase over the internet,and highly rated,you better believe its out there in the wrong hands.A prime example of this is the extreme lengths to which Larry Eugene Phillips, Jr. and Emil Matasareanu went to armor themselves for their shootout with police in the now infamous 'North Hollywood Shootout' on February 28, 1997.
Deepest Penetration Depth : 11.8 ± 0.05 Inch-Thats almost the 'required' 12 inches of penetration AFTER TOTALLY DEFEATING a level II vest.And thats a basic FMJ with standard lead core,available over the counter by Sellier and Bellot.
Also,please note that the FMJ projectile actually EXPANDED to ABOVE .45 caliber-Bullet recovered average diameter – 0.462.The weight might not be there,but the penetration and the diameter sure is.And I'll be willing to bet it expanded to that diameter because of breaching that vest,so were looking at a .46 caliber hole for just shy of 12 inches-in other words,this is a .46 caliber wound passing the total length of 'soft tissue' terminal ballistics,all the way thru the 'bad guy'-AFTER defeating his vest.
Not bad.
Not bad at all.
Wonder if there is a difference between lead core and some of the steel core milsurp ammo out there?I do,but I do know that this makes a CZ52 or a TT33 or any of its many varients a bit more appealing in an age when kevlar vests are being worn as a 'status symbol' by gang bangers.......
Toks and CZ52s arent the most modern of handguns to carry.But they cost around $200 and you have your pick in exemplary locking mechanisms,if not much else-Browning style in the TT33,or MG42 style roller bearing in the CZ52.
With a bit of proper selection,you can get a down right reliable and accurate pistol.
Both may need some minor work,like new springs or maybe a new finish,before carry.
But they carry like any other single stack full size auto,i've even heard that some guys use their 1911 rigs with the CZ52.
I'm still waiting,but the day someone makes a modern pistol chambered for 7.62x25 tokarev is the day I spend whatever money it costs to have one,at the risk of having it used on me by my missus.
For more information and to see how other 'penetrators' stack up,go here-
http://www.brassfetcher.com/index_files/Page315.htm
You might be particularly surprised to see how the 5.7mm FN stacks up.......
I'll give you a hint:
Deepest Penetration Depth : 6.2 ± 0.05 Inch
Tokarev 'wins' again!